About New York

Winter

2018-12-02T08:55:00.000-05:00

Rather fun collecting little bits of dried up stuff from the ground

and my son's yard and photographing them

against an old cookie tray.

Some leaves are stubbornly hanging on to the trees.

Near Union Square Christmas lights entwine with last leaves.

A portrait of an apple

and a lemon too.

Not Spring Yet...

2018-04-07T11:36:00.000-04:00

Much neglected blog....

Not too much to report.

Hideous weather

Hideous president

However, some charming snowdrops on Long Island

a wonderful Grant Wood show at The Whitney

best public exhibition I have been to in ages

even when he is at his most depressing.

On a cheerier note - a splendid exhibition of Lucy Dodd's work

at the David Lewis Gallery. I have known Lucy since before she was born.

And then there are always the delights of food.

A pistachio eclair for Frances and a brioche for me.

On a wet day Eisenburg's Sandwich Shop

provides comfort food galore.

Toasted bagel and bacon.

Pickles and a BLT.

This morning there were bright ranunculi at Union Square.

Hurry up spring...

Winter Continues...and What to Do to Combat it...

2018-02-03T10:51:00.002-05:00

The groundhog has spoken.

Six more weeks of winter - and it's still bitter cold.

Madison Square Park is bright and chilly

But Eric Kayser serves hot tea and gives you a little tiny financier in your saucer.

Another day I repair to the flower district

and bathe in bright ranunculus

and more ranunculus

and anemones

and weird begonias with swirls in them

and my very favorites - hellebores more charmingly referred to as Lenten Roses.

I go home and make sketches and start on a new tapestry design having stocked up on colored wools.
I'm reading Agnes Jeykll's Kitchen Essays from 1922 which summon up a lost world and have just finished Diana Holman-Hunt's delightfully batty memoir My Grandmothers and I from 1960.
Only six more weeks.....

Summer's End

2017-09-04T07:31:00.000-04:00

Labor Day....

The moment to hang on to the last joys of summer

and remember walking in the woods of Long Island

and the delights of diner food on the day of a flash flood.

Summer flowers from our son's garden.

The home to the city and thinking of next year's flowers. (A very old plate from Morocco with a beautiful glaze.)

And walking in Central Park where there were a large number of rats in The Ramble. Pied Piper needed soonest.

Some progress in my latest project - a tapestry from a photo of folk art from a chicken seller.

And Union Square has cheerful flowers

sweet mini plums

and both yellow and white peaches.

HAPPY LABOR DAY

Snapshots from early summer...

2017-06-12T14:36:00.000-04:00

Suddenly it’s summer!

And very hot indeed - in the 90’s today. On Friday we sat up on the roof.

Today I walked up to Union Square where they were having some sort of promotion for Air France and the young girls were looking terrifyingly chic.

Such pretty mini-squash - to be photographed but not eaten.

I went home on the bus as it was too hot to walk.

The other day when my friend Jo was visiting from out of town, we had lunch at ABC Carpet, a most wonderful shop where they have lovely little flower arrangements all over the place.

They also have magical distressed mirrors.

This last photo is of a little ant who came downstairs with me from the roof where the nasturtiums and lavender are flowering.

May

2017-05-30T12:01:00.001-04:00

Time for Japanese irises on Long Island

And always time to go to the green market at Union Square.

A good hunting ground for aging hippies and green type people. (Include me in!)

Ramps looking swirly

and ranunculus looking vivid.

So very pretty!

Who knew that radishes had flowers?!

Union Square, as ever, a flower lovers’ paradise.

A Walk in the Park

2017-04-21T08:11:00.001-04:00

On Tuesday I went for a wonderful walk in Central Park with Frances of CityViews/ CountryDreams.

Lovely to see the mist of unfolding leaves - so delicately overarching.

Lots of people out and about enjoying the day.

Blossoms unfolding too

and delighting the eye.

A birthday salute to Wm. Shakespeare!

What a blessing Central Park is!

How picturesque

and how pretty!

Thinking of Spring

2017-03-31T09:52:00.000-04:00

At Union Square the twigs are twisting

and the pussy-willow

is enchanting.

The trees are thickening and budding.

On Long Island, the young ones are set to work digging

and the skies are brilliant bright in the city.

On the High Line crews are cutting back winter’s dead growth - observed from above by a rather languid maiden.

At home, daffs are picturesque

as are tulips.

At the diner on the corner Mr. Beady-Eyes tells us he’s thinking of hopping.

Today it’s pouring with rain, of course

But tomorrow I start planting the tree pits.

Happy Spring!

The High Life

2017-03-03T07:17:00.001-05:00

Much neglected blog!

Anyway, back in New York and hanging out in a part of town I’m not usually in.

A brand new building on 42nd Street called MiMA the venue of a Saatchi art show that Robert was in. Fabulous views over the Hudson to New Jersey - with the Intrepid on the right.

Looking down was rather unnerving. Spot the little church with dwarfed spires nestling in the shadows.

Looking north made the little buildings look like Lego building blocks.

The views at night were extra dramatic - the Intrepid again on the upper right...

and everything twinkly and magical.

One of Robert’s paintings of another, more classic, high rise building!

The last photo taken out of an open window looking directly downwards onto 42nd Street.

I’m still feeling dizzy!

Winter

2017-01-07T09:16:00.001-05:00

In the depths of winter, vegetables, like people, get chilly.

The ones waiting to be eaten in Union Square get protected by plastic sheeting.

Lisa Lewicki told me years ago that photos of stuff under plastic work very well. So here is someone walking past the veggie stand.

And here is the outside of a veggie stand looking in.

There were a few apples and pears to be had

and some squash. Because it was cold

I decided to have a snack...

Happy New Year!

Seasonal

2016-12-11T07:41:00.001-05:00

The little plastic Santa comes out of his box

the children write letters.

The last flowers are gathered from the garden

and bits and pieces of foliage admired.

We see curious fungi on a walk.

The usual trip to the green market to see wreathes

buy fruit

and see more wreaths

and luxuriate in berries

and more berries.

An edited picture of a splendid tree on Long Island looking mysteriously festive.

My little book available here.....https://www.amazon.com/Two-Summer-Stories-Village-Flower/dp/1539654478/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480619675&sr=1-2&keywords=elizabeth+wix+two+summer+stories

Two Summer Stories

2016-12-01T14:22:00.000-05:00

My latest little children's book TWO SUMMER STORIES is finally available from Amazon - just in time for the holidays! In the US here and in the UK here .

I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it. Though aimed at 8-12 year old readers, it's also a memoir of growing up in England in the 1950's and full of history and adventures and family and may well appeal to grownups of my generation.

These are a couple of the water colors I did when working on the story.

I've also re-editied the two first stories Jane in Winter and Jane and the Essex Serpent. Jane in Winter is especially Christmassy - at the end.

Happy reading - and please forward to anyone who might be interested!

Post Thanksgiving and a Winner

2016-11-28T09:25:00.001-05:00

After all the eating, time to get up early

and walk down the High Line when no one was there!

To look at the grasses

and berries

and then have a go at the leftover roasted veggies.

The next day we go on an adventure by subway

and ferry.

We see The Statue of Liberty (photo by Gretchen!)

We see container boats

and even the Queen Mary.

Time for a Famous Nathan's hot dog.

Some one eating in the diner has already taken out the Santa hat!

And so the season turns.

The winner of the $50 Novica giveaway is MamasMercantile. Please email me at elizabethwix@hotmail.com so I can send you the gift code.

I think you are sure to find something pretty there!

Almost Thanksgiving and a Novica Giveaway....

2016-11-20T06:18:00.002-05:00

So, as always much going on in New York as we prepare for Thanksgiving.

The very last leaves on the trees on 5th Avenue

and amidst those very last leaves the holiday lights are going up.

I was chatting with the workmen who seemed very cheerful.

Decorating going on at the Blue Water Grill - ornamental cabbages are getting more exotic and some are like palm trees.

Such a very bright clear day at Union Square.

Picking out multicolored carrots for the Thanksgiving feast...

and the very last of the roses....

And this year's discovery HoneyNut Squash - as against HoneyNut Cheerios.

A view of the Empire State Building from a rather different angle -this time from Brooklyn.

And now for the $50 Giveaway from Novica. This is a company I have supported for many years - their lovely unusual gift and crafts come from all over the world. I especially love their silk scarves and unusual Thai paper goods. So go to their website and then write a comment here and I'll pick a lucky winner at random on Wednesday.

Pretty handmade paper....

and a gorgeous colored scarf.

Knitting Hats

2016-11-15T10:53:00.000-05:00

I always enjoy knitting hats. Nice and easy and quick to do. Comforting and useful. My family have huge numbers of them. In fact, they are swamped in hats!

Robert and me a couple of years ago.

My current crop of hats for tinies not earmarked for anyone in particular. I always use pure wool. Mostly cashmere and baby alpaca so super soft - but have to be hand-washed which is a bit time-consuming.

Elf hats are popular

and often given as presents.

Good to keep the little ones snug. Anyway, my somewhat brilliant idea is to sell the extra ones to raise money for Doctors Without Borders or Oxfam - charities we can all agree on, I think.

What with postage and packing and the materials, I have to ask $30 each so I can give $15 to the charity. So if you have any newborns who need hats, contact me at elizabethwix@hotmail.com

I sometimes do custom orders and am open to suggestions. Each hat is utterly unique and a bit random and very much homemade.

And what are you doing to take your mind off current events?

Baking is good.

Reading is good....

Warmest wishes

New York Fall Round Up and Almost Halloween

2016-10-29T13:34:00.000-04:00

The artist Berch has decorated windows in Chelsea for years.

These are a few of this year's Halloween selection at the RailLine Diner.

Speaking of diners -which I love - one of my favorites is called EAT HERE NOW.

An excellent suggestion - so I did. A splendidly unhealthy lunch - but how delicious!

The diner is in the east 60's on Lexington Avenue and is slightly below street level so you see all the traffic zooming by. The waitress is from the Ukraine but looks like someone Manet painted long ago.

I do love public transportation. But you do need to be patient.

You need to be even more patient on the bus - but you do get to meet people. This is a very chatty woman who took me for a tourist. She hoped I had a nice visit in New York and said New York people were friendly even if they didn't seem like it at first. She is the only person in the city I have seen sporting a Trump button. I did not discuss politics.

Then on to Union Square where there were.....

squash and pumpkins

and astounding pumpkins

Here is a horse near Union Square who was having a snack.

Here is a very small cauliflower sitting for its portrait on a plate I bought in Italy in 1971.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

New Site

2016-07-08T10:10:00.000-04:00

As long time readers of About New York know, that site had been around a long time.

Now I'm mostly posting pictures on Instagram as biffwix

I'm also posting some photos of flowers and vegetables and talking a little bit about history and writing on Random Images - a Wordpress site.

Warmest summer wishes from a sweltering New York.

1001 Posts

2016-05-30T10:36:00.003-04:00

So much to see - as ever

Up on 5th Avenue a taxi zooms past people in costume. Who can they be?

Part of a dance performance - cell phone in hand.

Looking fierce -with a cigarette...

Sailors looking friendly with Pat, my favorite crossing guard.

The sign of the pig in Greenwich Village.

I get all my life advice from abandoned buildings....

So I thought - and decided that 1001 posts on a blog is quite enough. I sort of tried abandoning this one a couple of years ago but now think that this one's time is really up.

Blogging is such fun and you encounter the most lovely people - most of whom I plan on keeping up with.

I'm loving the simplicity of Instagram where my handle is biffwix.

Please follow me and let me know if you are on Instagram...

Some very occasional thoughts on life and books and photography etc will appear

in elizabethwix.co

Urban Gardening

2016-05-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

The gardening season is upon us.

Time to revamp the tree pits. They are necessarily filled with annuals - tweaked during the various seasons. The tulips have been removed, the pansies struggle on - the ones that didn't get aphids. Blue and white salvias have been added - and, lo and behold, a sunflower seems to have appeared. Volunteers welcomed.

This is the tansy that ate Cleveland. I fear it is rather a horrid plant. Do check the link. I bought a little one at a green market last summer because I had heard the name but never grown one. It survived over the winter on the roof - I moved it to a friend's terrace where it took over a rather large planter. I decided to put it out on the street. It grows about three inches a day...

Gosh, a real iris on the terrace I'm looking after.

The lavender is blooming on the common roof terrace. I'm not thrilled with potato vines but another of the garden committee members is. That's the trouble with a committee - you have to be democratic and humor other people.

First roof gleanings - yesterday evening.

Viola flowers - much larger than life.

This picture is not in the city. Teaching the little ones to make flower arrangements!

And now at Union Square -peonies!

This is the most glorious gardening time of year.

Shopping in London

2016-05-16T07:28:00.001-04:00

To be honest, I'm not a very good shopper. I like looking at things rather than buying them.

When I go to London, I always visit Liberty's to look at all the things I can't afford and admire the architecture. I worked in their bookshop in the summer of 1972!

Such a splendid staircase

and such wonderful flowers!

I did buy four books at the Persephone bookshop which is exactly where I would like to work now - if I lived in London. Actually, I want to buy all the books - first for the content and second for their looks. I recommend The Village by Margarita Laski - a very clear-eyed look at a small village post World War Two.

This is a bookshop in Lewes which was fortunately closed - thus saving me the trouble of carting assorted tempting retro books across the Atlantic.

This is the gift shop at Charleston farmhouse where one can stock up on Bloomsbury related reading matter - of which there is a great deal. I bought a very small coaster as a present for a friend.

This alarming shop in Berwick Street, Soho, was barred to prevent the clothes escaping to threaten us with the 1960's and the horrid odor of patchouli.

Ah, Patisserie Valerie on Old Compton Street. Yes, I went in and had a croissant and a lovely hot chocolate.

How I admire the Queen for her resolve and endurance. Here she is on a biscuit tin. Lots of Queen's 90th birthday memorabilia.

Claudia and I made the awful mistake of going to Harrods where I hadn't been in many many years. (I worked in their bookshop in the summer of 1970). The lovely tiles were still there in the food halls. The rest of the shop was much altered. Bought some Charbonel & Walker chocolates as a present for a friend from a very sweet girl who gave us free samples of other choices.

Total haul of London shopping: children's clothing and four books....

Men at Work and Weather Watching

2016-04-12T14:25:00.005-04:00

I'm afraid I have become rather neglectful of this blog since I'm really having more fun with Instagram -where I'm Biffwix (my childhood nickname).

Anyway, I'm still taking photos while wandering round the city.

Here a young man is being instructed in the tricky art of poster hanging. An elegant process - best done very swiftly like watercolor painting. Looks easy but it isn't!

Delivering scaffolding near the car wash seen below.

Quintessentially New York colors - harsh and bright.

Gosh, what a lot of building round here. This near the new 7 line subway stop at Hudson Yards taken on a very brisk, cold day.

Here the police chatting and drinking coffee on Penn Station. There are always lots of policemen there and soldiers (of both sexes) and also State Troopers with their strange hats. I asked my husband if there are women State Troopers and he said there were though I have never seen one.

Ah! Spring in the city. Here blossoms on our roof...

storm clouds at Jamaica Station

and looking west from our apartment.

Pigeons in the almost budding trees in Penn South...

And, yesterday, real leaves unfolding on the climbing hydrangea at the mysterious house on 21st Street that I dream of living in one day.

Happy Easter

2016-03-27T11:38:00.001-04:00

Days getting longer

spring flowers ranunculous and hyacinth

overblown parrot tulips

the rabbit -ever the symbol of spring

Peter and Ian-Down- the Hall made rabbit cookies and...

very impressive homemade Peeps!

Pussy willow up at Union Square

where we went to buy some color for the tree pits....

I won $2 on a scratch off....and discovered a little Peter Rabbit jug from when the children were small....

Signs of Spring!

2016-03-09T10:00:00.001-05:00

The windowsill with the best light and lovely miniature daffodils.

Bright clear sunshine on the closed up astrology shop. Did they forsee this?

The model boat pond in Central Park with a snack bar where Frances and I had lunch yesterday - and were able to eat outside for the first time this year.

A refurbished gazebo by the lake.

It's St Patrick's Day very soon - the artist Berch decorates the windows of lots of local diners. Here The Malibu Diner - a great favorite of my sister in law.

Easter is early this year. Not sure if Berch's bunny is grumpy or sleepy.

This one is bit more lively. (At the Rail Line Diner)

Vivian Swift: Author, Blogger and All Around Cool Person

2016-02-28T10:24:00.000-05:00

Books, gardens, art, blogs, London, Morocco, witty people, friends...

How everything is wonderfully combined inVivian Swift's new book coming out on March 1st.

Mine arrived in the mail last week because I'm mentioned in the acknowledgements (so is Buster!).

Lucky me!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/vivian-swift/gardens-of-awe-and-folly/

Kirkus review thinks the book is wonderful - as I do. I've known about the book for a while as Vivian has been working on it for ages. She is so very funny - and so very knowledgeable. So the book is a compendium of delights.

The two gardens mentioned in the book that I know very well and have blogged about are The Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh with its splendid blue walls and the Chelsea Physic Garden in London.

How I miss living in Morocco. That aside

Vivian is obsessed with the same door I was years ago

Look how they have tweaked the colors.

http://thehouseinmarrakesh.blogspot.com/2010/04/light-at-jardin-majorelle.html

Fish in the pond there.

Then the Chelsea Physic Garden in London.

How different the light is!

Vivian is very funny about the updated lunch room - and how it has changed. I exactly agree. It was wonderful years ago - but then so many things were. I'm getting ancient.

What an enviable gig - traveling and looking at gardens and writing about them too! Not to mention the hard work of painting them then editing text and so forth.

I think this book would be a lovely present for anyone who likes any of the things mentioned in my first sentence.

Maybe spring will eventually get to New York - meanwhile I'm reading!

The New Whitney

2016-02-19T07:37:00.000-05:00

We walked down The High Line to the new Whitney Museum on Wednesday. It has been open since last April and really it was pretty lazy of us not to have got there before.

Dramatic but dull views over the Hudson from the stunning building.

Inside lots of old favorites like Reginald Marsh's drunken sailors and good time girls.

Lots of newer things which make me glad I no longer write art reviews. The interior spaces are gorgeous and cathedral-like.

Dark clothes look rather good with all the white walls and plain floors.

The balls on the Christmas tree thing reflected the people. The white part looked like plastic insulation stuff.

So much to look at!

The painting Robert liked best.

A door to a terrace where you can look down on Gaansevort Street.

On Thursday we continued doing art type things.

This last photo taken without filter the other day at dusk. I'm rather pleased with it!